After the mass moulting of insect nymphs in the river, it happens often, that the fish collect only the "skin" floating on the water, which remained of the nymphs. This leather can also be imitated. Guido describes his favorite "fly".
There are days like that, when not a single insect is visible on the surface of the water. Nevertheless, we are surprised to find, that trout and grayling busily go up and collect something every now and then. Could they be removing tiny flaps from the surface?, beetles or ants? It is very annoying, when the fish completely ignore even the smallest bait, dry bow tie tied on hook no 24. Could it be the thickness of the leader? After all, I was fishing with a line 0,06 mm, and the fish still completely ignored my bait. Judging by the fins showing below the surface, it must have been quite nice grayling. They were definitely hungry too, for that was the only way I could explain to myself that the fish constantly came to the surface. So what was my mistake?? The equipment wasn't too clunky. I was fishing a class fly rod 3, I had a long line leader 0,06 mm, the end of the leader was greased, and the bow tie flowed just above the fish stands. The technique was also appropriate. I was throwing diagonally against the tide and so was leading the fly, so that it does not stain the surface of the water… A lot, of course, that fly! The fish are not taking, because something” im not match in my bait. Just what graylings are picking up at the moment? I watched the surface of the water for a long time, then I discussed it with my fellow angler. Score: the fish did not go to the flies or ants; they were more interested in "skin", that is it, what is left of the nymphs molting.
Floating to the surface
After the last moult at the bottom of the river, the nymphs must get out of the water. While rising to the surface, many nymphs fall prey to hungry trout and grayling. After the lifting phase is over, dessert is waiting for the well-fed fish – The "skin" after moulting, carried on the surface of the water. It is very nutritious. It is actually a dessert for trout and grayling, because removing such food from the surface is not a problem. However, it is a real problem for fly fishermen and it is very difficult to solve. No, because what to tie on a hook, that something, which I guess should be called a fly, it faithfully imitated the "skin" of a nymph? Probably all fly fishermen have seen the "skin" raised on the surface after moulting nymphs before. The "skin" of the Mayfly nymphs is particularly large. May may, however, do not swarm at any time of the year, and they are also not found on all water courses. Fish mainly eat moult of small maylets, then they are not interested in any other food. Such "skin" is only a few millimeters long, it is transparent and has no "volume". Someone noticed this a long time ago, very simply tied flies are also the most effective. The same applies to the imitation of the "skin" left over from the molten nymphs. This fly is so primitive, that it hardly deserves to be called a fly, but I guess I already talked about it. Together with my friends, we call it "real leather".
Fast binding
This imitation can be made with a few movements. No dexterity is needed here, but only a little silk thread and a fine line. From a fishing line with a diameter 0,10 mm we cut 12-15 two-centimeter pieces. In the middle of each of them we make a regular knot. Cut one of the protruding ends of the line right next to the knot. Then we take a waxed silk thread (8/0) in olive green color, orange, brown or beige. So we choose only natural colors. The thread is wrapped around the shank of the hook from the eye to the elbow and the lure body is ready. My advice is to use a light hook to tie dry flies, e.g.. no 14-22 Partrige's L4A. Then we tie the pieces of fishing line very precisely to the shank of the hook at the knots height. There must be pieces of line sticking out in all directions. We tie the end knot, we secure the fly with varnish. And it's ready! The fly we made will stay perfectly on the water surface. Admittedly, it does not look very nice, but most importantly, that is interesting for fish. If the fish don't bite on any of them, even the best fly, and at the same time they will come to the surface, this is a chance for it, that being tempted by "real skin" amounts to how 1:1. If I'm exaggerating, you can call me "real skin" from today.